Let's Talk Drag 2025
XF15-Loader reply :
Ok, I've been reading a lot and see many anglers talk about setting your drag correctly. How do you know your drag is set correctly?
I usually keep my drag locked down for frog fishing so I was surprised to read that you shouldn't have it locked down.
So, this fall I backed my drag down a little while jig fishing. The first hit I got, I set the hook and d**n near unspooled my reel...lol. How do you know how much to back it off? Or, do you wait for the strike to make that decision.
Help a brutha out!
Thanks,
-J
Mosster47 reply :
Well someone orders, receives, inspects, breaks down, builds, accounts for, and delivers to you. Then you just throw it on a jammer and stick in onto a launcher and leave the trailer untied. That's what you do load toad.
On topic if it's a technique you have to cross their eyes with like a jig have your drag as tight as you can get and use your thumb bar and thumb to let out line. Anything else get it to where you think it should be and go three clicks tighter.
It's a bass, it's not breaking anything.
RoLo reply :
Locking-down the drag is extremist.
A powerful lunge from a big bass could cost you a Personal Best (in short, it defeats the purpose of the drag)
Adding thumb pressure as necessary accomplishes the same end, but with greater flexibility.
Roger
XF15-Loader reply :
LMAO. Whatever. You must be a BB stacker, @Mosster47! I used to like you guys until I spun a 904 while doing my preload checks. Apparently it has to spin hundreds of times to arm but it still had a pucker factor...Lol.
At any rate, I'm good keeping my drag locked down for frogging n jigging? I guess I should just read less n fish more...Lol
-J
hunterPRO1 reply :
i always am able to pull line from my reel, no matter what, except 80lb braid, which i dont even have a spool of anymore.
Mosster47 reply :
On 4/27/2017 at 9:25 AM, XF15-Loader said:LMAO. Whatever. You must be a BB stacker, @Mosster47! I used to like you guys until I spun a 904 while doing my preload checks. Apparently it has to spin hundreds of times to arm but it still had a pucker factor...Lol.
At any rate, I'm good keeping my drag locked down for frogging n jigging? I guess I should just read less n fish more...Lol
-J
We had an SP in Qatar sit on a 141 one evening and remove the clip and wire from a 94 and spun it for hours sitting there watching the fence.
Luckily the Line-D guy caught the fuze was armed. The SP admitted to it and was sent home.
XF15-Loader reply :
Lmao @Mosster47. That's NUTS. Then again, there's a reason they're SP's!
WRB reply :
How much force can your rod take before breaking when bent at a 90 degree angle against that force? Not talking about high sticking at over 180 degrees, just normal lifting power.
There isn't any standards, but for this topic Medium heavy or 4 power 6'6" to 7'4" bass rods the maximum safe lifting force is 4 lbs., heavy or 5 power is 5 lbs. maximum drag setting shouldn't exceed safe lifting power. Set the drag using a digital fishing scale by running the line through all the guides and holding the rod at a 90 degree angle from the pulling force at 4 to 5 lbs for M and H bass rods. If you need to turn a bass for some reason clamp your thumb down on the reel spool momentarily.
Tom
Team9nine reply :
RoLo reply :
On 4/27/2017 at 9:59 AM, Team9nine said:
UH OH...Do I sense a back-reeler among us 
TheRodFather reply :
I agree with WRB. Just for giggles, take your reel and lock it down, run the line through the guides and tie a 5lb weight on the end of your rod.
Hold your rod parallel to the ground and lift up using only the handle. If the pucker factor doesn't make you stop first you may just need a new rod.
Add that to the fact that unless your drag is ultra fine tuned, there is a measurable initial rise in force till the drag slips, so the 5lb you have set may initially breakaway at 6, or 7.
Master Bait'r reply :
I like to use a half gallon of milk.
That's a hair under 4lbs, and a reasonable thing most people have. Just tie your line end to the jug handle and start to lift GENTLY. I set it so I can't actually lift it but almost. Better safe than sorry!
The only times I lock down my drag are with 40+ braid and 15+ cxx for cover/jigs. (Or for finesse frogging)
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
The rule of thumb is to set drag pressure at 2/3 of line test. With braid go by mono diameter equivalent. I don't advise locking it down for any application. Hitting the spool release with pressure on the line is abusing your reel and asking for trouble. Specifically pinion gears and spool drive pins.
KDW96 reply :
On 4/27/2017 at 9:22 AM, RoLo said:
Locking-down the drag is extremist.
A powerful lunge from a big bass could cost you a Personal Best (in short, it defeats the purpose of the drag)
Adding thumb pressure as necessary accomplishes the same end, but with greater flexibility.
Roger
On 4/27/2017 at 9:42 AM, WRB said:How much force can your rod take before breaking when bent at a 90 degree angle against that force? Not talking about high sticking at over 180 degrees, just normal lifting power.
There isn't any standards, but for this topic Medium heavy or 4 power 6'6" to 7'4" bass rods the maximum safe lifting force is 4 lbs., heavy or 5 power is 5 lbs. maximum drag setting shouldn't exceed safe lifting power. Set the drag using a digital fishing scale by running the line through all the guides and holding the rod at a 90 degree angle from the pulling force at 4 to 5 lbs for M and H bass rods. If you need to turn a bass for some reason clamp your thumb down on the reel spool momentarily.
Tom
On 4/27/2017 at 7:20 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:The rule of thumb is to set drag pressure at 2/3 of line test. With braid go by mono diameter equivalent. I don't advise locking it down for any application. Hitting the spool release with pressure on the line is abusing your reel and asking for trouble. Specifically pinion gears and spool drive pins.
Read an reread these posts. And take special note of the last 1or2 sentences in each post! I was taught this many years ago. The drag is not meant to be locked down 100% of the time. Ive seen many,lose good fish,break rods,snap line etc because they keep it lock down. The use of your thumb pressure along with a properly set drag, is just as important as a well educated thumb controlling the spool during the cast.
Edited by KDW96
spelling
geo g reply :
In florida we have so much thick grass and pads, I lock my drag down. You have to get their head up quick or you will not get them out of the grass. No time to play with a hooked bass. The next one nay be the fish of a life time.
WIGuide reply :
I don't have mine locked down for anything. If you almost spooled your reel on a hookset, obviously it's too loose so tighten it up some. I keep mine tight enough that my drag doesn't slip on the hookset for any of my single hook techniques. For treble hooked baits, I'll leave it loose enough it slips just a little on the hookset.
WRB reply :
I believe the rule of thumb for drag setting is 1/3rd the mono/FC line strength and not to exceed the rods lifting power. Another factor not discussed is backing your drag off after fishing so a the drag components don't take a set failing to operate smoothly.
We are talking about fresh water largemouth bass, not a stronge hard running fish compared to their salt water cousins. The 1/3rd drag setting works for me for giant LMB over 15lbs and off shore salt water fish that weigh more than I do!
If you want to put big bass in the boat learn how to control them.
Tom
MickD reply :
How much force is a "locked down" drag able to generate if its capacity is about 15 pounds?
WRB reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 1:13 AM, MickD said:How much force is a "locked down" drag able to generate if its capacity is about 15 pounds?
15 lbs!
Brett's_daddy reply :
Okay, so maybe this only applies to spinning reels and not baitcasters but the way I set my drag was to hold my rod in one hand and pull the line out with the other adjusting the drag until I could still pull the line out but it had good resistance...probably not the best way but hypothetically would it work for a casting reel too?
fissure_man reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 1:13 AM, MickD said:How much force is a "locked down" drag able to generate if its capacity is about 15 pounds?
You should be able to push it above the nominal max by using a higher-viscosity drag grease like JB Weld.
No need for any fancy CF washers with this method.
Bucky205 reply :
Somewhere where the breaking strength of the line will not be exceeded.
UPSmallie reply :
I usually just make sure I can barely pull line off with hands. You don't want it to not give any line, or give too much, but just enough that if you're pulling hard enough some line will come off. Trial and error helps too.
Catt reply :
All of mine are set at 6 lbs!
Nobody fishes any vegetation or brush any denser than we have down here!
I have absolutely no problems pulling fish out 
RoLo reply :
On 4/27/2017 at 11:18 PM, WRB said:I believe the rule of thumb for drag setting is 1/3rd the mono/FC line strength
and not to exceed the rods lifting power.
I'll drink to that Tom.
When I used to preset my drag tension for saltwater fishing,
I always set the reel drag between 25 and 30% of the line's breaking strength (be it bluefish or bluefin)
If that seems 'light' to you, lock down your reel drag then tie an end-loop in your fishing line.
Now have your partner hook the end-loop to your fish scale.
Keep applying pressure to your rod until your partner tells you that the scale reads "5" pounds.
You might be amazed how much pressure that is.
Roger
WRB reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 8:12 AM, RoLo said:
I'll drink to that Tom.
When I used to preset my drag tension for saltwater fishing,
I always set the reel drag between 25 and 30% of the line's breaking strength (be it bluefish or bluefin)
If that seems 'light' to you, lock down your reel drag then tie an end-loop in your fishing line.
Now have your partner hook the end-loop to your fish scale.
Keep applying pressure to your rod until your partner tells you that the scale reads "5" pounds.
You might be amazed how much pressure that is.
Roger
Roger, I back off my star drag on every fresh water reel I own and set them before each trip, after doing this for decades the 4lb to 5lb force is easy to estimate and it's far more than most anglers would guess, still check sometimes with a scale. I set my Int't 30 lb tuna reels at 6lb strick and 10lbs Max, Int'l 50 Marlin reels at 8 lbs strick and 12 lbs max, tuna up to 200lbs, Marlin up to 750 lbs. 4 lbs with 12 lb line for LMB is more than enough force to control any bass.
Tom
gimruis reply :
I had my drag set a little too tight last fall and when I set the hook on a large fish, the hook straightened out. I was using 30 pound braid on a medium heavy bait casting rod. Turns out the fish was actually not a bass, but a muskie and I am convinced I would have caught that fish had my drag not been so tight.
RoLo reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 8:45 AM, WRB said:Roger, I back off my star drag on every fresh water reel I own and set them before each trip, after doing this for decades the 4lb to 5lb force is easy to estimate and it's far more than most anglers would guess
Exactly.
Setting the drag tension by feel gives the angler the freedom to back-off on the drag in the field,
then reset the drag tension by feel. I rarely touch my drag tension in the field,
but when you're fighting a lightly-hooked hog, backing off on the drag can perform miracles
Roger
EvanT123 reply :
Just a question if you lock Down your drag or clamp your thumb on the spool. Aren't you than using your rod to move the fish?
i normally use the drag to let the fish move and the rod to move it.
RoLo reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 9:40 AM, EvanT123 said:Just a question if you lock Down your drag or clamp your thumb on the spool. Aren't you than using your rod to move the fish?
i normally use the drag to let the fish move and the rod to move it.
Yes, you pump the fish to the boat with every up-stroke of your rod,
and take up slack line with every down-stroke of the rod.
The drag is just a shock absorber to protect the rod, line and hook from excessive shock.
You can increase the drag at any time by adding thumb pressure,
but I wouldn't recommend locking down your drag. Some reels have a max drag of 20 pounds,
where locking down your drag would offer no cushion at all.
Roger
Catt reply :
On 4/27/2017 at 7:20 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:The rule of thumb is to set drag pressure at 2/3 of line test. With braid go by mono diameter equivalent.
Maximum drag for a Shimano Calcutta 100A is 9.5 lbs, my drag is set at 6 lbs.
My Texas Rig & my Jig-n-Craw reels are spooled with 15# Berkley Big Game.
Pretty much 2/3!
I've never had a drag slip on hook set, even on 10 lb plus bass. Any drag slippage after hook set, usually only 3-4 turns of the spool, at the first turn I'll release rod pressure slightly & reapply; this stops the run & turns her head.
Team9nine reply :
On 4/28/2017 at 7:10 PM, Catt said:
Maximum drag for a Shimano Calcutta 100A is 9.5 lbs, my drag is set at 6 lbs.
My Texas Rig & my Jig-n-Craw reels are spooled with 15# Berkley Big Game.
Pretty much 2/3!
I've never had a drag slip on hook set, even on 10 lb plus bass. Any drag slippage after hook set, usually only 3-4 turns of the spool, at the first turn I'll release rod pressure slightly & reapply; this stops the run & turns her head.
wuss
T9 (jk; couldn't let that one pass) 
MickD reply :
My point was intended to promote thought into the "definition" of "locked down," and how much force is generated by "locked down." It seems to me if the drag capacity is 15 pounds, that's about all it can generate when "locked down." So if this is true, with 30 pound test line, there is no truly "locked down" drag. Most, if not all, freshwater reels, spin or cast, don't have drag capacities any where near 30 pounds, which is about the minimum braid pound test that baitcasters use. Maybe most are considering "locked down" to be "maxed out," but with line with higher pound test than the drag capacity, line can be taken off against the drag and rods can be broken if not handled correctly.
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